New centre will bring research rigour to complementary medicine

Experts in medicine from Australia and around the world welcomed the official launch of the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM) on 8 August 2013

ARCCIM will be the first centre of its kind worldwide to focus on conducting and promoting critical public health and health services research into complementary medicine

A new research centre at UTS will lead critical, rigorous research into complementary medicine in Australia with direct relevance to patient care and health policy, said its director.

Professor Jon Adams welcomed international and national guests at the official launch of the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM) at UTS on Thursday 8 August.

Special guest speaker Professor Robert Saper, Director of Integrative Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Professor, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health, spoke of the significance of the Centre to complementary medicine research in Australia and internationally

“In speaking with a wide range of stakeholders during my visit to Australia, it’s become clear that complementary medicine requires quality scientific research to ensure that rigorous standards are upheld. This means that the establishment of ARCCIM, the first complementary medicine research centre housing a wide range of methodologists with internationally recognised expertise, is timely and innovative.”

Also speaking at the event were Michael Moore, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia and Professor Chris Baggoley, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health & Ageing, Australian Government.

Both of these distinguished speakers outlined their support and congratulations for the vision and initiative of ARCCIM.

ARCCIM is the first Centre worldwide to house leading researchers with a range of methodological expertise and to focus on conducting and promoting critical public health and health services research into complementary medicine.

ARCCIM has ongoing collaborative partnerships with a range of prestigious associations and organisations including the American Public Health Association, Public Health Association of Australia and the Indonesian Public Health Association amongst others. The centre has attracted $7.5 million in external competitive grant funding from Government via ARC and NHMRC.